//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Intimidator // Story: Life in the Fast Lane // by The Wasteland Brony //------------------------------// As Applejack came around on her 25th and final lap of the session her speed came in at 201.000 mph flat. She drove her car down pit road and parked. 2 laps later Vinyl Scratch in the 4 and Flamefly in the 88 joined her. 4 laps after them Lightning Dust finally brought the 11 down pit road. After Applejack got unbuckled and climbed out of the car, Viynl was already there in front of her. "Yo AJ those were some sick moves out there, almost seems like you've been driving your whole life" said the albino white unicorn with electric blue mane, her ruby red eyes staring back into Applejacks emerald eyes "Aw shucks thank ya kindly Vinyl. Y'all didn't do to bad yaself out there" Applejack said Jeff and Richard climbed down from the pit box and headed over towards the two mares "Well see ya later AJ looks like Octy wants to talk with me" Vinyl said and she headed off towards a gray earth pony who Applejack knew was Vinyls mare friend, Octavia. "Applejack there's someone I want you to meet. This is Richard Petty" said Jeff "It's real nice to meet you Applejack" "Uhhhhhhh" was all that could escape Applejacks mouth as she stared at the legendary driver in front of her. She quickly snapped back to reality "It's real nice to meet you to Mr. Petty" "Oh please just call me Richard" Said Richard, giving one of his trademark laughs "So Applejack I was thinking. Since you've meet mine and the other HMS drivers family's why don't you introduce us to your family?" Said Jeff "Well shoot y'all like family to me now, of course y'all can meet ma family" It took Applejack and the 5 drivers longer to get to Sweet Apple Achers then expected because all the ponies in town wanted not only autographs and pictures with the 4 HMS drivers and the Legand but they also wanted her autograph and pictures with her. They finally made it to the the farm where Big Mac was out front bucking apples off an apple tree, Apple Bloom catching the falling apples in the basket on her head and Granny Smith was relaxing in her rocking chair on the porch of the family homestead. Apple Bloom noticed the new arrivals and a big smile appeared on the little fillys face "Applejack Applejack!!!" Apple Bloom squealed in delight as she ran up and gave her big sister an even bigger hug "How'd it go today Applejack?" Big Mac had asked his younger sister, giving the two a big hug "It went great Big Mac" Applejack said, returning the embraces Granny Smith had slowly, but surely, trotted her way over to the group and gave her oldest granddaughter a hug "Apples a'he would like to introduce you to some new friends of mine" "This here is Jeff Gordon. He's been the one teaching and mentoring me through this here thing" Applejack said, pointing towards Jeff "It's nice to meet you all" said Jeff "And these are his teammates Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr" "It's very nice to meet you" said Jimmie "A pleasure to make your accaiatneces" said Kasey "Howdy" was all that Dale Jr said, but in a friendly kinda way "And finally here is NASCAR royalty, Richard Petty, also known as The King" "It's my honor to meet you all" Richard said Applejack then turned towards the drivers and introduced them to her family "This here's the Apple family. My little sis Apple Bloom, ma big brother Big Macintosh or Big Mac and our grandmother Granny Smith" Big Mac came up and shook the drivers hands with his hoof, Granny Smith gave them the best hug she could and all Apple Bloom did was just bounce around the drivers "Y'all look mighty hungry. Why don't y'all come inside, a'he just finished makin up some fresh apple pies" said Granny Smtih "Yes please I am starving" said Dale Jr "Your always hungry" said Kasey Once everyone and everypony was inside the kitchen and sitting down (after Big Mac brought in some extra chairs) Granny Smith served them all a big slice of homemade apple pie. The drivers started telling the apple family members about story's of their careers. But the talking wasnet all about racing, the drivers also talked about the family's, their hobbies, etc. Then Jeff started prasing Applejack for what she was doing on the track "She's a natural born racer" said Jeff "I think she'd be able to beat me in a race" said Richard Everyone started laughing, but not from what the King just said. It was at that moment that Apple Bloom decided to pull a little prank, and Kaseys face was covered in Apple pie, but he was laughing to "It's good to finally be pranced by someone other then my teammates" As the 5 drivers said their goodbyes and said they'd see Applejack in the morning, she headed off for bed. She was walking through the halls of the NASCAR hall of fame, admiring all the history of the sport. When she turned the corner, she saw a tall man standing in front of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that said "Goodwrench" and had a big bold 3 on the side The man turned to look at Applejack and she stopped in her tracks and just stared at the most Legandary driver NASCAR had ever seen Dale Earnhardt Sr Applejack could not believe her eyes. Dale Sr was standing right in front of her "Hello Applejack, I do believe you know who I am?" said Dale Sr "Yes sir a'he do" Applejack replied "I've been watching over NASCAR since that fateful day I lost my life. I've seen young rookie drivers come, old veteran drivers go. I've watched over my son Dale Jr ever since that day as well. But the one thing I've found interesting about you, Applejack, is that I've never seen anyone or anypony ever get behind the wheel for the first time and do it like it's 2nd nature. Your going to go far in this sport Applejack, and I'll be watching over you the whole way" said Dale Sr "Thank ya kindly sir" said Applejack "Please, call me Dale" "A'right Dale" said Applejack "Oh and one piece of advise Applejack" said Dale Sr "What's that" "Stay away from the wall" The sound of an alarm clock going off made Applejack awake. "A dream, it was only a dream. But it felt so real" she said to herself Applejack reached over and shut the alarm off but she didn't move. Dale Sr's last words still echoing in her mind "Stay away from the wall" she said to herself Applejack arrived in the infield and just like the day before very few drivers were up and about. As she walked towards the garages she saw Denny just climbing out of his RV. Denny smiled and waved at her "Morning Applejack" Denny said "Mornin' Denny" "Jeff's in the garage waiting for you" Applejack got to her garage and just like the day before Jeff was sitting waiting for her, coffee in hand "Top o' the mornin to ya Applejack" Jeff said as he handed Applejack her new helmet and firesuit "Mornin' Jeff" "What do you think of the car? asked Jeff Applejack looked at the car. There were no flames or anything fancy, it was just a combination of silver, red and yellow with "3M" on the hood "Looks mighty shiny" Applejack quickly got changed and climbed in the car. She flipped the switch and the car roared to life. She grew to love the sound of the engine. She was the first one out on pit road this time, but as soon as she parked in her box Viynl drove the #4 out on the road with "Outback" on it "What in the hay kinda sponsor is Outback?" She said to herself, but she wouldn't want to know now would she. "Ok Applejack were going 50 laps today so your going to have to bring the car in at lap 35 for a pit stop or you'll run out of gas" Jeff's voice came over the radio "Roger that" The 4 cars followed the pace car out onto the track this time and did a couple of parade laps around the track. Once the pace car ducked off the track and onto pit road, a man waved a solid green flag and Applejack floored it She was already through turn 2 by time the other 3 even got to turn 1.